Paper used for writing and painting; for documents,
classical books, Buddhist sutras etc. Ryoushi used in Japan includes *mashi
麻紙, *choshi 楮紙, *ganpishi
雁皮紙, and *mitsumatagami
三椏紙. Mashi, is made from yellow or white hemp and was widely used as the
paper on which to copy sutras, particularly in the Nara and early Heian periods
(8-9c). Choshi, which is made from the abundant mulberry tree that grows
in all regions of Japan and produces tough paper fibers, is the predominant paper
in use since ancient times. It includes several varieties: *housho
奉書, *minogami 美濃紙, and
*danshi 檀紙. Ganpishi
(also known as *torinokogami
鳥の子紙 or "chicken paper" because of its yellow color), is a very fine
quality paper with a smooth, glossy surface made from plant fibers (Diplomorpha
sikokiana), and often used for book production since ancient times. From the late
Muromachi period (mid-15c) onwards it was usually used for documents. Thick varieties,
*atsuyou 厚様, and thin varieties,
*usuyou 薄様 also were produced.
Mitsumatagami, made from mitsumata 三椏 plant fibers (Edgeworthia
papyrifera) was developed in the mid-Edo period (18c), but was generally not used
for books or documents.
A full single rectangular sheet, *zenshi
全紙 of ryoushi, when used horizontally, is known as tategami 竪紙 (also
written 立紙). When this is folded in half horizontally it is called origami
折紙. When it is folded in half vertically it is called tateorigami 竪折紙.
A sheet which is folded both horiziontally and vertically and then cut into smaller
pieces is called kirikami 切紙. When a piece of writing cannot be completed
on a single sheet, two or three sheets are glued together and this format is known
as tsuzukigami 続紙. Ryoushi has a wide variety of uses including:
letters, cards, envelopes, books *sassubon
冊子本 and scrolls *kansubon
巻子本. A wide variety of decoration can also be applied.
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